On the Basis of Biological Sex
Name: Camille Carr
Majors: Sociology, Religious Studies
Advisors: Dr. Heather Fitz Gibbon, Dr. Mark Graham
As of February 2022, ten states have enacted legislation that bans or limits the participation of transgender girls in school-sponsored sports. Eligibility requirements for transgender and intersex athletes, meant to promote fair competition, often subject them to unnecessary medical procedures, significant invasions of privacy, and humiliation. This ideological crusade about sex differences reflects both how entrenched the sex-gender binary is in science, policy, and culture and how the existence of transgender and intersex people is considered anomalous and pathological. Despite the lack of a concrete scientific basis for binary sexes or genders, the sex-gender binary continues to propagate itself. This Independent Study begins with an exploration of the Western Christian cultural origins of the sex-gender binary by doing a feminist reading of chapters two and three of the Book of Genesis and using Judith Butler’s theoretical framework on gender. Next, the historical interactions between intersex and transgender athletes and athletic governing bodies are recalled. Finally, the paper finishes with a sociological analysis of the American legislation seeking to exclude transgender athletes from school-sponsored sports.
Posted in Comments Enabled, Independent Study, Symposium 2022 on April 26, 2022.
6 responses to “On the Basis of Biological Sex”
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Hello again Camille: You’ve heard me say many times how impressed I am with this important work you done in IS. You completed an excellent project, through challenging circumstances. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with you, and I wanted to stop by here to say that again! 🙂
Great work, Camille!
Congratulations Camille!
Love this project!
Great job Camille!
Amazing Job Camille! This project was so great and really well presented!